Golf putting and chipping training device

ABSTRACT

A golf training device ( 1 ) primarily for putting and chipping having a vertical plate ( 6 ) for alignment on a hand grip ( 9 ) of a golf club ( 3 ) and a second plate ( 7 ) is attached at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the first plate ( 6 ). The second plate ( 7 ) is for resting against the lower forearm ( 5 ) of the golfer ( 2 ) during the golf stroke to achieve and maintain a substantially triangular configuration of a golfer&#39;s arms. The device may be removably affixed to the hand grip by attachment means, such as straps ( 8 ) having hook and loop fastening material ( 11 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to golf and more particularly to a golf training device for teaching primarily putting and chipping which can be integrated into a golf club or be separate but removably affixed to the hand grip of a golf club as needed.

[0002] In the game of golf, position and form are very important to achieving an accurate stroke. When swinging a golf club, particularly during putting and chipping, the desired position is one in which the arms form an approximate triangular formation with respect to the golf club. Such a position enables the larger muscles of the upper arm, back and shoulders, not the muscles of the wrist and forearm, to be used throughout a putting or chipping stroke. Unfortunately, what commonly happens is that a golfer uses the smaller muscles of the wrist and forearm when putting and chipping which results in disaster caused by the foreward wrist breaking down in the putt or chip.

[0003] Thus, a need exists for a device to train golfers in the proper form and stroke, particularly in putting and chipping.

[0004] The most pertinent prior art includes numerous patents, but none like the present invention. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,064 issued to Barber on Dec. 20, 1994, discloses a golf club training device that requires a club modification and consists of an attachment which fits over a modified handle of a golf club. U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,054 issued to Rodarte on Aug. 29, 2000, discloses a new golf club grip that attaches to the top of a shaft of the club and is angled forward to rest against the rear arm of the golfer, rather than the forward arm as does the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,146 issued to Viets, et al. on Sep. 28, 1993, discloses a putting trainer that attaches in the hole on top of a putter and has a crossbar with two U-channels at each end to engage both arms and hold them in a proper position during a swing. U.S. Pat. No. 2,273,416 issued to Norwood on Feb. 17, 1942, discloses yet another golf swing training device that wraps around the shaft and has a strap which wraps around the rear wrist. U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,073 issued to Vasquez on Nov. 28, 1995, teaches another device that fits over the top of the shaft and has one or two wrist collars extending therefrom. U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,624 issued to Martinez on May 18, 1999, discloses another arm holding device that attaches to the top of a golf club. U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,780 issued to Marier, Jr. on Aug. 24, 1999, discloses a putting practice device that is secured by a golf tee in the top of the shaft of the club and has a curved front to rest against the wrist of the front arm and holes to adjust the placement thereof. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,892 issued to Karp on Jun. 11, 1996, discloses a golf club positioning and holding training device with a form-fitting grip that attaches to the standard grip of a golf club and uses an audible whistle to indicate a proper swing.

[0005] Although the prior art discloses many golf club training aids that are designed to hold the forearms during the swing, none is like the present invention which holds only against the front forearm to hold the arms in the proper triangular position during putting and chipping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a golf teaching and training tool to teach proper form during a golf swing, primarily putting and chipping.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a golf teaching and training device that does not require golf club modification.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide such a golf teaching and training device that can be removably affixed as needed.

[0009] The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a golf training device that has two pieces or plates which may be integral or separate and integrally or removably attached to a golf club. The first plate is for vertical alignment of the training device on a hand grip of a golf club. The second plate is attached to the top of the first plate at an angle so that a majority of the second plate rests against the forward arm of a golfer during a swing. The device can be removably attachable around the handle of a golf club by fastening means on the first plate. The fastening means may comprise one or more straps having hook and loop fastening material to secure them tightly around the hand grip of the golf club. Each of the two plates may be convex on the inside surfaces so that first plate conforms to the circular shape of the hand grip and the second plate rests more comfortably against the lower forearm of a golfer. The angle between the first and second plates is preferably be approximately 45 degrees so as to achieve the proper triangular formation of the arms from the position on the hand grip to a golfer's shoulder.

[0010] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the golf training device of the present invention in use by a golfer;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a side view of the golf training device integrated into a hand grip of a golf club putter;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of the golf training device in removably attachable form by itself;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a front view of the golf training device of FIG. 3;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a back view of the golf training device of FIG. 3; and

[0017]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the golf training device of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:  1. training device  2. golfer  3. golf club  4. rear arm  5. forward arm  6. club alignment plate  7. angled arm plate  8. club attachment straps  9. club hand grip 10. strap attachment rivets 11. hook and loop fastening material

[0019] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the training device 1 attached to a golf club 3 as it would appear when being used by a golfer 2. The use of the golf training device of the present invention results in the arms 4 and 5 of the golfer being placed in a desired triangular formation so that it is the large muscles of the upper arms and shoulders which participate in the stroke, rather than the smaller muscles of the wrists and lower forearms.

[0020] In FIG. 2 the golf training device 1 appears integrated into a club hand grip 9 by a club alignment plate 6. A forearm plate 7 is attached to a top of the alignment plate 6 and extends forwardly at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

[0021] FIGS. 3-6 illustrates the training device of the present invention 1 in removably attachable form with the vertical club alignment plate 6 and arm plate 7 attached at an angle to the top thereof. Straps 8 attached to the club alignment plate 6 by rivets 10 or similar means. The fastening means on the straps 11 is preferably hook and loop fastening material like VELCRO®, but also could be snaps or other means so that the training device 1 may be adjustably and removably affixed around the hand grip 9 of a golf club. The club alignment plate 6 and arm plate 7 are preferably concave on the inside surfaces thereof where the alignment plate 6 contacts the golf club grip 6 and where the arm plate 7 comes in contact with the lower front forearm of the golfer. In this manner both plates would conform most closely to the somewhat circular shape of the golf club hand or the forearm of the user. The angle between the two plates 6 and 7 would preferably be approximately 45 degrees in order to obtain and maintain the inverted triangular formation of a golfer's arms from shoulders to hands during the golf club stroke.

[0022] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, all improvements and modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of the claims are included as part of this invention. 

Having thus described my invention, I claim:
 1. A golf training device primarily for putting and chipping, said device comprising: a first plate for vertical alignment on a hand grip of a golf club; and a second plate on a top of the first plate at an angle such that said second plate rests against an inside surface of a foreward forearm of a golfer.
 2. The golf training device of claim 1 wherein the device is removably affixable to the golf club by attachment means on the first plate for removably affixing the device to the hand grip of a golf club.
 3. The golf training device of claim 2 wherein the attachment means comprises one or more straps capable of being secured around the hand grip of a golf club by fastening means on the one or more straps.
 4. The golf club training device of claim 3 wherein the fastening means on the straps comprises hook and loop fastening material.
 5. The golf club training device of claim 2 wherein the first plate is concave on an inside surface so that it conforms to the circular shape of the handle of a golf club when the device is attached thereto.
 6. The golf club training device of claim 3 wherein the first plate is concave on an inside surface so that it conforms to the circular shape of the handle of a golf club when the device is attached thereto.
 7. The golf club training device of claim 4 wherein the first plate is concave on an inside surface so that it conforms to the circular shape of the handle of a golf club when the device is attached thereto.
 8. The golf training device of claim 1 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 9. The golf training device of claim 2 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 10. The golf training device of claim 3 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 11. The golf training device of claim 4 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 12. The golf training device of claim 5 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 13. The golf training device of claim 6 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 14. The golf training device of claim 7 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 15. The golf training device of claim 8 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 16. The golf training device of claim 9 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 17. The golf training device of claim 10 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 18. The golf training device of claim 11 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.
 19. The golf training device of claim 12 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees. 